ICMR & disease control body given different corona data

Indore: There has been a difference of over 300 Covid-19 cases reported from Madhya Pradesh to National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) till April 26 morning.

The major difference in figures has been because of anomalies in number of Covid-19 positive cases in Indore, Bhopal and Hoshangabad.

The difference in figures came to fore through presentation in meeting of a cabinet secretary of Union government held in last week of April for reviewing the critical care facilities in districts across the country.

Principal secretary medical education and member of state Covid-19 task force Sanjay Shukla said, “We are aware about the difference in figures of positive cases in state reported to NCDC and ICMR.”

The different figures were reported due to clerical mistakes as there are two wings in the state to report to ICMR and to NCDC. There is one Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) wing in every district, which directly reports to NCDC about the figures, said Shukla.

The other directly reports to ICMR. Hence the difference arises. But, we have informed the Union government about it and updating the figures, said Shukla.

Difference was majorly because of Indore, Bhopal and Hoshangabad districts. The rest were minor ones and some were updated. The rest will be updated, added Shukla.

There were 1650 positive Covid-19 cases and 103 deaths in the state, as declared by state health bulletin. When further enquired about reporting to ICMR and NCDC with district health officials it came to fore that IDSP reports to NCDC as well as ICMR.

There is a huge backlog of data to be updated with ICMR because of lack of data entry operator in district, said CMHO Dr Praveen Jadia.

Moreover, every virology lab across the country involved in testing of Covid-19, reports directly to ICMR about the positive and negative cases.

Positive cases results were updated with ICMR in real time from lab because it is cross checked before being declared, said an official involved in process of virology lab of MGM.

However, the negative samples data is also updated but as it is very exhausting process and there are only four operators at the medical college lab, there is a pendency of such data to be uploaded on ICMR portal, added the official.